The Daily Guide of Waynesville, Mo., reports that improvements to the 1923 Roubidoux Bridge, which carries historic Route 66, will proceed after fits and starts.
Originally, vintage-looking lights were planned on the bridge. But preservationists were concerned that drilling holes into the structure to install them would compromise the bridge’s integrity. There also were concerns about the bridge’s appearance if the lights were simply hung over the bridge’s edge.
So a compromise was hatched:
Lights are still planned with the project, only they’ll be placed along the north side of Benton Street down to the bridge. The bridge itself won’t have any lights installed on it. However, the proposal includes placing four larger lights — two at each end — on both sides of the bridge. […]
Now, funding set aside for the parking area will be used to help refurbish the bridge. Hardman said the parking project was removed from the grant’s scope because MoDOT doesn’t build city streets.
“What we’re really doing is keeping the Route 66 bridge in its original form, cleaning it up a bit and refurbishing it,” she said.
The extensive work to the bridge encompasses sandblasting and repairing the curbing and sidewalk.
New sidewalks along Historical Route 66 will connect a walking path to the Roubidoux Walking Trail and lights will also be installed at certain parts along the trail in the main park.
Here’s a good batch of photos of the Roubidoux Bridge, from the excellent Bridge Hunter site.